Method and machine for making radiator-tubes



cQA. EuGH'. METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING RADIATOR TUBES. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2 8, I9I5- RENEWD APR. I92D.

Patented May 24, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

C. A. EUGH.

METHOD AND MAmNE ron MAKING mol/won Tunas. PPLCTIN FILED IUN 28 1915.

RENEWED APR. H1920.

Patented May 24, 1921.

V3l SHEETS-SHEET 2.

C. A. ELIGH. l.METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING RADIATOR TUBES.

APP'LlcAnoN FILED luNE 2s. 1915. RENEwED APR. 1. 1920.

1,379,006. f Patented May 24,1921.l

a :Heirs-sacar s.

MTD', STATES Param ferries.

errantes a. amen, or nnrnorzr, Ministerin, .essrenoze 'ro Lone .Mantener-Uhm@ courent. or Bernois, rammenta, A. eenroaerron or niemeer?.

y METHD AND MNUEINE FR MARN@ IihADI.JJ'GldffillHESv intense.'

application' led June 28, 1915, Serial No. 36,653.. Renewe L ril 1, 192i). 'Serial No. 370,533.

l T o all whom z'zmag/ conce/m2,:

Be it known that l, CHARLES A. ELIGE, a citizen of the United States, residing et Detroit, llfliehigan, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Methods v and Machines for Making Radiator-Tubes,

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improvements effected are the following:

The surface of the tube is Well cleaned and a film of flux applied thereon immediately before the corrugated tin is wound upon it. This promotes capillary attraction and causes the iu'x whichis carried onto the.

'tube by the wire of solder to linstantly-'How to the iin. l provide a jet ot air to remove superfluoussolder. A coupling is provided i for attaching a fresh length'of tube to the f one nearly completed.

placed inside of the tubes, whose ends may -then be brought into contact and enables winding oi the lin to continue without in terruption across the joint. After the Windinga is well started on the new length the lin is cut at the joint andthe finished length plied when desired. whereby to connect the carriage to and disremoved from the machine. Then the'carriagre is brought back, the chuck attached to the new tube and the process is continued. By this method the entire length of tube is usable` effecting economy of material and saving the time it would take to attach the ribbon anew to each length of .tubing- Byy means oic a lever convenient to the operator the machine may be stopped and .started and its speed controlled.' and a brake ap- A lever is provided connect it from the driving mechanism, enablingit to be quickly returned and the chuck vconnected to the new length of tube.

Tubing used tor this purpose is of rather thin gage and as its Weight is considerably increased by the iin which is Wound onit,

- one or more supports are necessary to prevFor this purpose I provide .suitable supn vent a long length sagging in the middle.

This coupling is' Specification o Letters Yatent. Patented hy 1921.

ports and means fontemporarily retiring them to allow the carriage to pass. In the accompanying,` drawings: Figure l is a front .elevation of my inachine; Fig. 2 is a plan; y Fig. 3 is an elevation ci' the right hand l end, and,

ig. e is an elevadsion of the left hand end. Fig. 5 is a view of the chuck. Fig'. G is a view 'of the coupling. y

Similar numerals indicate like partsy in the several views. 4

IThe base of the machine is composed oa pair of longitudinal steel channels united by transverse members 26. An upright 27 is mounted at the left handend of the base and an upright 28 is mountedat some distance from the 'right hand end.` These uprights support a stationary rod or rail 29 on the -top of which is located a rack 30` A. carriage having` a 'iframe .3l is mounted to slide on the rail and is kept from rotating thereon by the rack. A shaft 32 is mounted to rotate in bearings onftlie carriage and this shaft carries a pinion 33 which meshes 1 with the rack 30'. A bevel gear 34 is mounted on shaft A feather' (not seen) ittinfrl in a groove in the shaft permits longitudinal mo'vement'er" the gear 34 on the shaft i While compelling the pinion 33 and gear to rotate as a unit. A bevel pinion is cured to one end and a gear 36 to the other end of a shaft (not seen) which rotates in bearing 37 in the carriage. The rear normally meshes with pinion The gear 3G meshes with a pinion 38 secured toa hollow shai't 89, also mounted in the carriage7 and a pinion 40 is mounted on the other end of this shaft.

hollow shaft 43,' which shaft terminates in a chuck 44C. This chuck y1s merely an .ex-

. pending arbor over which the tube slips and holloiv shaft 39. Shaft 50 has a longitu'dinal erooveand feather in shaft 39 runs therein` compelling' the two shafts to' rotate as a unit while allowing relative longitudi' Through an intermediate gear, .l lil. gear 4e() drives a pinion 42 mounted on a maf" nel movement.. A lfrictiondisk 5,1. ismountf has n heb with an ani'iulzir groov which a Collar ie inountcil. This collar vtailed description ofthe opi 2 einem@ ed on the left luiud end of shaft 51')n the frio tion surface ol therg ,ar being i iiat oiroular surface beveled at its edge. transverse power shaft 52 rotates in bearings and is cor1f tantlyv driven by i belt running on e pulley 54. The hearing-.s are/supported by rodeI 55 which pass through bearings in the upright 27, compression springs 5G conneci between the upright unile/,tie bar 5T held in )hice by nuts on the ends of the rods vtenti 'o .drow the Shaft toward the friction iliok 5l. 'A friction wheel 5S is arranged to slide longitudinally on shaft 52 but is r0- tiitecl therewith by a leather. The pinion is connected by a bitume-teil linll; Si to-1in arm rigidly] secured to a roolrshat 63 which ruins to 'a point Within reach of the -peratoij `where :i lever rigidly attached., by means of which the operator can. Vii'it the friction wheel to various positiores vith reler'enee to the disk :3l or Shift it entirely oil of the (liek. *A broke 'block is carried bv the link 6l which comes cont-:iet 'with the periphery el the digli. :El when the. lever lil is `thrown to one efitrenie and enables the operator to etop the machine quickly. Erich rod 55 is provided with e collar @l which limits the movement impor to it by its spring' 56 and the lateral,move-ment of Shaft 52 is therefore quite smell when the Wheel is shifted oli' of 'the disk,

At :its right :hond end shaft 50 carries .fi bevelgenr '.70 which meehes with@ s'ii'nilur bevel fear .71 mounted upon e, shaft- 721etuting in all) `iring in e broc-liet T3 attached to the upright 2b. corrug'uftiiig sfo-ll Tl is mounted on the other end o' shaft sind meshes With :intl drive? a companion corrueration :1 leni'fth of 'tube pziee'erl through u guide bearingV 76 carried by upright :2Q. and Secured to the chuck ell. The emloi e.

cured to the tube or chuck und the machine is then started. the combined rotary :mil longitudinali movi-:ment oi the tube., the hitter iml'mrteil b v `the pinion 33 en'fneehefl with the ruck 30.-c:1use5 the cori iitefl ribbon to be Wound on the tube in irnlf form. with the Solder Ywire between its Qonvolu tions. This is rlesi'rriheci in one or moreel the patents mentioned above rofl more fletion le iur necessary here.

One or gnir bearings 8 videgl 'to prevent tile be sagging distance between the cimeli -Liinl 'becomes co r'lemble. These carried by relie mounted, te

e proticallv in sockets 82; the movement of the rode is limited b v pins 88 carried by the rode and playing in slots in the soolrets. Compression springe 85 tend to keep IV the guides up iin effective position, A rama 86 is carried by the carriage which engj ges4 shoulders 8? and temporarily (leprejejses'the bearings, the springs returning them to 1101*# nini position after the carriage has passed.- Thie emi-bles the chuck and parts associated. therewitl'i to par@ the bearings. A

Close to the guitle Z o trough 9() is placed in which the length of tube lies as it grudu ally moves towarflthe machine. At Ithe endV olf the trough .neuves ehe nmoiiizie :i felt pad Jl lit placed sothut the tube lie-s on it. From time to time liquid flux is poured on this parl :incl the roturymotion the tube causes the purl to vipetlxe tube clean, andv at the tube. which cleans the edge and moistene it with flux scrnpefl from' the surface of. the;tube. The solder passes through a lin-th of' liquid flux, :is leser-iheel in Patent' No. 811939 above referred to, ami carries flux up to the tube. Thil; best shown in Fig. 4l where the solderwire on its wey to the tube. passee belowv o, rod 77, shown in (lol-ted lines een r the bottom ol" the ltank 78 containing `liquid iiux. 'lhe film of' llinx already on tlie tube attracts the'fiux brought up by the' wire'zincl itimmediately.spreads to lthe ribbon. By this means 'o' suilieient quantity of lurzis zippliecljiist Where it is needed without having `to .poles the .ribbon through 'u flux beth :is was (ione lin the -ourlier machines. The ribbon remains free *from linx except et the edge which is'in contact with tlie'- tube und. the Solder does not lion"Y over the Surface of the# ribbon, or "lin7 :is it is culled ul'tex' it is on the tube@A This improves 'the appearance of the prodiietincxcnses its olicienev somewhat, 'and eooiioniiI/,es sohfler amil flux. in the patent'zibove referredk 'to u .ons llame is played upon lthe tube to fusie the eoliler and While the-Solder is iuiil :i iet ol' air bloivn on the tube from .it nozzle 92, which removes the superfluous solder. The drawings show two reels containing; solder end two solder Wires' leerling' to the tube. @ne or more wires may he need, zurcordinojto the size of the wires :uni the amount of solfler required.

Vilien Winding of the length of tube is nearly completed si new length. is coupled to il' by ineens of the couplingf :shown in Fig. 6 wlieli consists of a. louble screw 95 the eem 4salme time c egjiositiugr iilm ol flux upon it.

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ter of which. is enlarged and provided with holes Se for a pin to in turning the screwu Each end otY the screw has aV shaped end and screws into 'an expanding arbor 97. 'l'hese arbore are arranged to expand by their own resiliency so that when they .are within the tube they oder sufficient resistance to rotation therein tio enable the screw to be turned to clamp them more lirnily within the tube. The arbor is irst inserted in the nearly finished length and the screw screwed in tightly. Then the new length is slipped overthe other arbor. The tendency for the arbor to grip the inside of the new tube and that 'ofthe new tube to resist rotation causes the screw to turn. in the arbor and tighten the arbor sutli ciently to control the new tube until it rez ches thcwinding point, after which the itself insures connection between the tube, 1When the winding has progressed to a predetermined length on the new. tube a carried by the carriage (not seen) res the lover 9S ol a bell. The operator stops the machine by using lever Gl and with a pair ol' shears clips the-lin' at the point where it crosses the joint between the tubes. lle `then releases the chuck and draws a lever 99 on the carriage toward him. This lever is connected by a link l() and a biturcated lever 101 to the hub of near Si and drawing?,- lever'll toward him moves gear le. out ol' engagement with pintill ion 35, The carriage can then be moved to the lelt far enough to withdraw the clinch from the old tube. Next the operator turns the lii'iished tube by hand sullicicntly to release the coupling' from the new length, the 'fact that the coupling4 has been screwed into the finished length by a pin used in holes Sliinsuring' the coupling remaining in the linished length. llc lays the finished length aside temporarily,moves the carriage up to and connects the chuck to `the new length. lle then throws the lever 95) toward the back of thc machine, which reinmeshes gear 34 with pinion 35, and starts the machine with lever (il. lle now has a brief period ol leisure during which he removes coupling from and disposes of the finished tube.

do not wish to be 'understood to limit myself' to the specific details of means 'or process here described, as numerous deviations; are possible without departing Jfrom thespiri or altering' the purpose of the in'- vention.

1ill/'hat l claim is as follows:

l. A machine lor making radiator tubes,

comprising meanslor supporting` and rorating a tube at various velocities, means for whirling a lin thereon, means for applying iux und solder, a llame to' heat the parts and 'fuse the solder, and excess solder re- Li'noving means adjacent to the llame, cornprising means for 'directing .a jet .of air upon'. the rotating tube and lin While the solder is fluid. y y 2. A machine for making radiator tubes, comprising means for supportingr and rotating a tube, means for Winding a lin thereon, means for applying flux and solder,'a flame to heat the parte and fuse the solder, and excess solder removing means adjacent to the flame, comprising means for directing a jet of air upon the rotating tube and lin While the solder is fluid.

3l 'In ay machine for making radiator tubes, a stationary rail, a carria e mounted to run thereon, a' chuck carried y the carriage, means tor simultaneously `rotating,r the chuck and propelling the carriage, a stationary guide through which to feed a ribbon to be Wound on a tube securedY in the chuck, abearing to support and guide the 'tube between the chuck and ribbon guide, said bearing being maintained in eiective position-by a spring, and a ramp on the carriage whereby said bearing is displaced vwhile the carriage is passing the bearing.

4. ln a machine for making radiator tubes, a stationary rail, a carriage mounted to run thereon, a chuck carried by the ear- `riage, means for simultaneously rotating the chuck and propelling the carriage ,along the guide, means for feeding a ribbon through a fixed guide soasto wind it in the form of a spiral 'on a tube secured in the rotating traveling chuck, a bearing to support and gu ide the 'tube between the chuck and ribbon guide, and,1neans for automatically placing said bearing` in operative position after the carriage has moved a predetermined distance.

5. A. machine for making radiator tubes, comprisingl means for supporting and rotating: a tube, means for windingr a metallic ribbonmnthe tube in spiral form, a flux saturated pad ar anged tobear against the rotating tube so as to wipe the tube and deposit thereon a film ot' flux beforepthe ribbon is wound upon it,` andvmeans' for supplying solder and applying heat where. by to solder the ribbon to the tube as it is Wound thereon.

6. A machine for making,r radiator tubeas,

comprising means for supportingand rotating a tube, means for Winding a metallic ribbouthereon 1n spiral form, a flux saturated pad arranged to bear against the rotating tbe so as to wipethe tube and depo'sit a film offluxrthereon before the ribbon is Wound uponl it, means for passing a wire of solderthrough a bath of flux and winding it on the tube between the convolutions of the ribbon. v i

7. In. a machine for making radiator tubes, means for supporting and rotating f tube, a. .Shu setnreed paci arranged to beer against the roi` ting nbe so io Wipe the tube depo i :i iilrn of flux upon it, 'snel ineens fior proiucing relsive movement between he pmi cnil f be parallel to *che exis the cube v 'icrfl similarly bresil the mre ieiigth ci the. cube.

i inne' ice for making radiator tubes ccmpi Ising ineens for supporting and ing tube. ineens for Winding a fin she-reen.n means for ppiyingr iilvlx and solden-ineens forghesting' the solder to fuso bhe seme; inici ineens adjacent to the ierne for direcing jet oi" cir upon @the roieing 'tube anni iinwhile lnhe solder is lnisi.

9` A machine for making i'nclizitorubes Y comprisingmesns Jfor supporting and rotatinc; a tube et various velocities, means rior Winding a fin on *cid tube, Ineens for fipplys ing ilu); and soider, ine-:ins for ieating Lche solder izo iiiscvzhc serneend excess solder removing ineens sfljecent to the flame, comprising mesi fior lirecting e jet of sir upon lie rotating mbe and iin'wliile the solder. riuid.

i0. in e machine #for making radiator@ subes cosi-riego. for nrlvsncing n tube and n member norojieily proviciing 1 support 'for seid tube 'iosilzioncfl indie nach of said cerrisgc and sctneble by the carriage sway from bhe Lube so :allow passage of the cerw riego.

li. of machine for melting; radiator tubes, carrie for :advancing c, mbe, s. memberE norms, v presiding' support 'for scid tubepr iaiioneo in the path ci? the cnrrisge sind :icosble by libe lifcter sivsy from the tube izo sliow passage of the carriage, and s. spring; normally :icfifngr said member in iis tube-engaging po ion.

l2. machine for making rsflioior tubes comprisinga. chocs carried by the carriage.I means for siinnltzineousiy rost'n che chuck sind propelling; 'che carriage, ineens for iecel' ing ribbon chrongheU iixefl guide so as ro wind sei ribbon spirslly on e. sube ing said onecle7 sini s bearing normally eii gagging' said tube inerinediete the guic and chock, said bearing; being' actuated by the' carriage to eiiow ossssge ci she istter.

. 13. A machine' for making resistor tubes comprising;` means ior roeing and supporting e tube, ineens YFor Winding a metallic' ribbon spirelly upon the tube., ineens for applying' iinx'o 'fhe roteingij tube prior lio engagement thereof by the ribbon, and means for e'iplying solder to he tube tosei cure the ribbon thereto, :incl forifhef'ineiy said solder to fuse the saine. 4 v 14. A mschine for .making radiator iubes, comprising; means for supgirorting and rotating tub@ means for winding s rnetellic ribbon on sbc sube spirellyi ineens vfor epplrfine fins, ilo tube prior no engage tube, ineens 'for oppiying linx to said tube,

means 'for producing relative' movement of seid tube and the means applying iux porellel to the of Jche 'tube whereby to similarly treat the enire length of the tubo.

The method or" making radiator tubes conp ising lie drivingv or' s tube section to sbirsllv wind :i iin liercon, securing theiin to bhelturbe (hiring the windingvoperabiol,V coupling another tube section. to that being h'ven to drive the same thereby beforethe completion of the 'Winding on the iirst sec? tion and continuing;` the Winding; across the junction of the two sections3 vsubsecolently severingl the iin 'se the junction, removing the lirst section sind continuing to drive the second scciojn. by the Wound portionv thereof.

17; The mei-bod ci making radiator cubes comprising che driving of tube section to spirelly wind erin 'lnhercoin successively cou- 'ohne-,the robe section to the driven section snel continuing 'she funding oi'tlie 'fin across -tbe 'junction end upon the cmiplcfl section,

iween.

ASecurinig` the iin to the-tube section While being Wound end successively severing. the iin it the junction between sections and removing1 lthe Wound section, whereby 'the process becarriecl 0n continuously.'

18j in machine for .making radiator `bebes. bhe combination wich ineens for rotatnn longitorlinelly advancing a Lnb@ coopers'iing means im spirzilly Winding a. fin upon sziiil Cube and securing dche seme, and means Aor intcriorly coupling anoher tube section to that 'being driven in alinenient therewith, whereby said fin muy ybe Wound continuously from one tube onto another. i9. lo s machine. Jor making radiator subes, ine combination with means for rontingcnd longiturlinnliy advancing, a'tnbe,

Icoopi-Ersting; moons for Winding and securing iin thereupon., and s coupler1 for connect-ing :inoher tube section7 utilizing tbe relative rotation ci' suini subes to operate che seme cnil c blish driving" engagement. thcrcbe QU, in n machine iol' msliing radiator bibs."7 vine combination with means for supporing und roziing s tube and 'feeding said' inbe longitudinslly, oi Ineens for vwinding and progressively securing lin thereuson,

n coupling member `for connecting successive c robes so be wound, comprising expansible clamping elements' insertible-in said tubes, cnfgl e connecting screw-'threaded meml for expanding seid clamping members. oy relative rotation of die tubes.

2l. in e machine for making radisor tubes, the Combination with meuns for supportmp; und rotating :i tube :uid feeding said tube longitudinally. of means; for wimling and progressively securing u fin thereupon, means for coupling :mother tube seetion tn tlmt, being wound comprising eX- pansible tubular clamping members inserti.-

` signature.

ble in the adjoining extremities of the 'lnibe'si and n connecting member v'having yits end. portions nsei'tible in said clamping mem- 2.o hers to expand the same.v

In testimony whereof I'hele ailing@ CHARLES A. ELlGH., 

